Conservative Groups Push for End to Wind Energy Tax Credit

In a letter to lawmakers, the groups said the federal government should not prop up wind energy with a 2.2 cent per kilowatt-hour tax credit.

They said the industry had become too dependent on the incentive, which the groups said amounted to $5 billion in tax breaks for a technology that provides 2 percent of the nation’s power.

“If a new technology truly has worthwhile benefits for American consumers such as lower cost, higher efficiency, or environmental benefits, then that technology will demonstrate its value by competing in the open market for consumers’ dollars — not by living off of special provisions in the tax code,” the letter said.

Groups signing the letter include the Koch brothers-backed Americans for Prosperity, the Club for Growth and FreedomWorks.